instagramhttp://www.maclife.com/taxonomy/term/7128/all
enPrice Drop: The Weekend's Best App Deals, January 16http://www.maclife.com/article/gallery/price_drop_weekends_best_app_deals_january_16
<!--paging_filter--><p>We're hot out of the gate with some serious productivity tools to get you singing right, ditching your flatbed scanner, taking better pictures, keeping a diary, and so much more. But worry not, as we also have games to keep you tapping late into the night in other worlds and testing skills. Just remember, these app prices are current at the time this article goes up, so don't wait around because prices can change in a blink of an eye.</p>http://www.maclife.com/article/gallery/price_drop_weekends_best_app_deals_january_16#commentsGallery5 minute yoga5coinsadventure bar storyapp dealsApp LifeApp SalesApp StoreAppsarcade addictarcade addict hdbeautiful tarotBoximizecalorie counterDealsdmd panoramafrugal lifeinstagraminstalyricsMarvel Pinballmomentomy followers on instagrampath inputQuicky Shopping Listsalesscanify plusSpace Agespace age: a cosmic adventureturbocollageweekly dealsyowindow weatherFri, 16 Jan 2015 20:12:09 +0000J Keirn-Swanson21197 at http://www.maclife.comNew App Recap 1/5/15: New Year Editionhttp://www.maclife.com/article/gallery/new_app_recap_1515_new_year_edition
<!--paging_filter-->http://www.maclife.com/article/gallery/new_app_recap_1515_new_year_edition#commentsGallery4KAppLifeAppsdisplaysinstagramiOSmessagingMusicstickersTwitterVideosiPadiPhoneiPodMon, 05 Jan 2015 22:45:34 +0000J.R. Bookwalter21158 at http://www.maclife.comApple Expands Social Media Presence With New iTunes Tumblr Sitehttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/apple_expands_social_media_presence_new_itunes_tumblr_site
<!--paging_filter--><p>Happen to miss the great pop culture moments of 2014? Never fear; Apple's got you covered. The catch here is that its social media department's chosen to do so on <a href="http://itunes.tumblr.com/" target="_blank">Tumblr</a>, where the company's created a page for iTunes celebrating the "best" from this year's music, TV, and books. It's but the latest move in Apple's increasing forays into the most popular outlets in social media.</p><p>The site looks and feels a little like skimming through iTunes itself, but mostly what's on display here is a collection of GIFs and other images that are designed to be liked, reblogged to other Tumblr users, or shared on secondary social media platforms like Facebook. It's a comprehensive list, and Apple's display includes selections for everything from <em>Guardians of the Galaxy</em> to Nicki Minaj and <em>Gone Girl</em>.</p><p><img src="/files/u334114/2014/12/itunestumblr.jpg" width="620" height="411" /></p><p>Apple's iTunes Tumblr page follows on the heels of the creation of its <a href="http://instagram.com/iTunes" target="_blank">new Instagram account </a>several days ago, which has already attracted around 67,000 followers in a very short time. Last year Apple CEO Tim Cook himself joined the ranks of Twitter, and earlier in the year Apple started directly advertising on Tumblr to draw attention to the iPhone 5c.</p><p>Oddly enough, Apple still lacks an official Twitter account, but it's possible that may change in the next few weeks at this rate. There's a chance this sudden rush to social media is the work of Musa Tariq, the former director of Nike's social media department, whom Apple hired back in August. As <a href="http://www.macrumors.com/2014/12/22/apple-new-itunes-tumblr-site/" target="_blank">MacRumors</a> notes, Tariq also once worked with new Apple retail chief Angela Arendts while both were working at BlackBerry.</p><p><em>Follow this article's writer, <a href="https://twitter.com/LeifJohnson" target="_blank">Leif Johnson</a>, on Twitter.</em></p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/apple_expands_social_media_presence_new_itunes_tumblr_site#commentsNewsAngela ArendtsinstagramiTunesMusa TariqSocial MediaTwitterTue, 23 Dec 2014 00:51:21 +0000Leif Johnson21129 at http://www.maclife.comMorning Report: Apple Pay Heads to Europe, $20M for (Product) RED, Grids 2.0http://www.maclife.com/article/news/morning_report_apple_pay_heads_europe_20m_product_red_grids_20
<!--paging_filter--><p><img src="/files/u220903/grids_for_instagram_2.0_620px.png" alt="Grids for Instagram 2.0" width="620" height="300" /></p><p>Christmas may only be a week away, but you won't have to wait that long to unwrap a trio of Apple-related news items. Our Thursday Morning Report offers a few hints about Apple Pay expansion beyond the U.S., follows up on Cupertino's recent (Product) RED campaign, and delivers a big update for Mac-loving Instagram users.</p><h3>Job Listing Hints at Apple Pay Expansion into Europe, Middle East</h3><p>Apple Pay may soon become a lot more ubiquitous, as Apple appears to be eyeing a major expansion beyond the United States. <a href="http://www.iclarified.com/46099/new-apple-pay-team-in-london-will-expand-service-into-europe-middle-east-india-and-africa" target="_blank">iClarified reported Wednesday</a> that a job posting in London specifically mentions the service will be rolling out "across Europe, Middle East, India, and Africa," but offers no details on when that might happen.<br /><br />"The new London-based Apple Pay team will work to drive the roll-out of this technology across EMEIA by working with a variety of internal and external partners, including teams in the US where the product will first launch and the EMEIA organisation, as well as Issuers, payment networks, and merchants across Europe," the job listing reads.<br /><br />China also appears to be in the crosshairs, with a second posting in search of an "Apple Pay Site Reliability Engineer" responsible for "multiple roles focused on the front line customer experience and the back end integration of Apple systems with our Network and Banking partners."</p><h3>Apple Holiday Promotion Raised $20M for (Product) RED</h3><p><a href="http://recode.net/2014/12/17/apples-holiday-product-red-campaign-raises-20-million-for-aids-research/" target="_blank">Re/code reported Wednesday</a> that Apple's recent holiday campaign appears to have been a smashing success, raising more than $20 million for partner (Product) RED to help fight the spread of AIDS in Africa.<br /><br />“I’m thrilled to announce that our total donation for this quarter will be more than $20 million — our biggest ever — bringing the total amount Apple has raised for (PRODUCT) RED to over $100 million,” Apple CEO Tim Cook wrote in an email to employees obtained by Re/code. “The money we’ve raised is saving lives and bringing hope to people in need. It’s a cause we can all be proud to support.”<br /><br />Taking place over a two-week period, Apple's (Product) RED campaign partnered with app developers who donated proceeds to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS. Apple also donated a portion of the company's retail and online sales during Black Friday and Cyber Monday, historically two of the biggest shopping days of the year.</p><h3>Grids for Instagram 2.0 Adds Multiple Account Support</h3><p><a href="http://thegridsapp.com" target="_blank">ThinkTim Creations announced</a> the release of <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/grids-experience-instagram/id916198600?mt=12" target="_blank">Grids for Instagram 2.0</a>, a major update to the third-party desktop app that delivers photos from the popular social network onto the Mac. Priced at only $0.99, the update now includes support for multiple Instagram accounts with the ability to seamlessly switch between them, three new layout styles, hotkey and gesture support for browsing, navigation, and like/comment actions, and a big performance improvement that promises faster image loading, resizing, and scrolling. The update is free for existing Grids users, and available now from the Mac App Store.<br /><br /><em>Follow this article’s author, <a href="https://twitter.com/JRBTempe" target="_blank">J.R. Bookwalter on Twitter</a></em></p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/morning_report_apple_pay_heads_europe_20m_product_red_grids_20#commentsNews(PRODUCT) REDApp Storeapp updatesApple Inc.Apple PayChinaEuropeGridsinstagrammac app storeMorning ReportTim CookiPadiPhoneMacThu, 18 Dec 2014 13:14:47 +0000J.R. Bookwalter21101 at http://www.maclife.comMorning Report: Bono Apologizes to iTunes Users, 27-Inch Retina Mac This Year?http://www.maclife.com/article/news/morning_report_bono_apologizes_itunes_users_27inch_retina_mac_year
<!--paging_filter--><p><img src="/files/u220903/grids_620px.png" alt="Grids" width="620" height="300" /></p><p>If you're in the market for a new 27-inch iMac with a gorgeous new Retina Display, we may have some good news for you, courtesy of one analyst with a pretty good track record for such predictions. Our Wednesday Morning Report also includes an apology from U2 frontman Bono for pushing that free album on iTunes users, as well as a peek at a new Mac app for Instagram. Click, read, and enjoy!</p><h3>Analyst Predicts 27-Inch Retina iMac, Short Supply of iPad Air 2</h3><p><a href="http://www.macrumors.com/2014/10/15/ipad-air-2-supply-constrained/" target="_blank">MacRumors reported late Tuesday</a> that the iPad Air 2 model widely expected to launch at an Apple media event tomorrow may be hard to find at launch due to constrained shipments caused by the "poor yield rate of anti-reflective coating cover lens." As a result, KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has predicted Apple may only ship seven to nine million units of the refreshed tablet, a noticeable dip from last year's model. Apple is also apparently devoting less resources to a refreshed iPad mini, which Kuo blames on the rumored 12.9-inch iPad model rumored to make its debut next year.<br /><br />One highly anticipated product Kuo expects to launch by the end of 2014 is a 27-inch iMac with Retina Display, which could be introduced during the same Apple media event on Thursday morning where a final release date for OS X Yosemite is expected. Unfortunately, fans of the 21-inch iMac may have to wait until the second half of 2015 to see a Retina Display version of the smaller desktop model, citing the difficulty of developing high-resolution panels of two different sizes at the same time.</p><h3>Bono Says Sorry About Forcing That New U2 Album on You</h3><p><a href="https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10153458076501686&amp;set=vb.5678046685&amp;type=2&amp;theater" target="_blank">Facebook posted an interview with the members of U2 on Tuesday</a>, where Bono and company answered questions from fans. During the nearly six-minute video, the subject inevitably turned to Apple's recent promotion of the band's new album "Songs of Innocence," which caused a bit of controversy after being automatically pushed to the devices of 500 million iTunes users following last month's iPhone 6 event.<br /><br />"Oops...um...I'm sorry about that," Bono apologized. "I had this beautiful idea and we got carried away with ourselves. Artists are prone to that kind of thing — drop of megalomania, touch of generosity, dash of self-promotion, and deep fear that these songs that we poured our life into over the last few years might not be heard. There's a lot of noise out there. I guess we got a little noisy ourselves to get through it."</p><h3>Grids Delivers Instagram Photos to Mac</h3><p>Tired of having your Instagram photos chained to mobile devices? ThinkTime Creations LLC announced Tuesday the release of <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/app/grids-present-instagram-photos/id916198600?ls=1&amp;mt=12" target="_blank">Grids</a>, a Mac App Store solution that presents Instagram images in a clean, adaptive user interface that works equally well as a window the size of a widget as it does in full screen. Priced at only $1.99 for a limited time, Grids allows Instagram users to adjust picture size, spacing, and background color in addition to the usual like, comment, follow, tag, and search functionality.<br /><br />One unique feature with Grids is the ability to bookmark Instagram users without actually having to follow them, in addition to locations, tags, or even individual photos without having to like them first. Users can also be notified when feed updates are available. One thing Grids can't do is actually upload photos to Instagram, but that's a limitation of all third-party apps. Grids is now available from the Mac App Store, but grab it quickly before the price goes up.<br /><br /><em>Follow this article’s author, <a href="https://twitter.com/JRBTempe" target="_blank">J.R. Bookwalter on Twitter</a></em></p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/morning_report_bono_apologizes_itunes_users_27inch_retina_mac_year#commentsNews27-inch iMacanalystsBonofree musicGridsinstagramipad air 2iTunesmac app storeMorning Reportretina displayU2iPadMacWed, 15 Oct 2014 12:26:48 +0000J.R. Bookwalter20784 at http://www.maclife.comInstagram's Latest Update Brings a Host of New Photo Editing Featureshttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/instagrams_latest_update_brings_host_new_photo_editing_features
<!--paging_filter--><p>For all of its popularity, Instagram has always been something of a joke when it comes to optimizing photos: you snap a pic, slap some faux vintage filter on it, and you're presumably happy. With <a href="http://blog.instagram.com/post/87703266532/new-creative-tools" target="_blank">today's update</a>, however, it finally gains a lot of the features long enjoyed by its more robust cousins.</p><p><img src="/files/u334114/2014/06/instagram_bigl.jpg" width="620" height="268" /></p><p>The new tools include the ability to adjust the brightness, contrast, warmth, saturation, highlights, and shadows of your images. The long-awaited ability to apply vignettes also makes its first appearance here, thus allowing aspiring photographers to subtly darken the corners of their photos for a more artsy look. Much as with apps like Google's <a href="http://www.maclife.com/article/reviews/snapseed_review" target="_blank">Snapseed</a>, you can also choose the intensity of these values via a slider.</p><p>Other options made their way into the meaty update as well, such as the ability to crop and straighten photos with the same tool and a feature that sharpens your images. Fortunately, none of these options is intrusive and the new tools mesh well with the existing design. As Instagram said in their announcement, "When you go to select a filter, you'll now see a new wrench icon. Tap it and you'll find a tray of photo editing tools ready for you to explore." Easy peasy.</p><p>Interested? It's up on the <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/instagram/id389801252?mt=8" target="_blank">App Store</a> for free right now.</p><p><em>Follow this article's writer,<a href="https://twitter.com/LeifJohnson" target="_blank">&nbsp;Leif Johnson</a>, on Twitter.</em></p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/instagrams_latest_update_brings_host_new_photo_editing_features#commentsNewsAppsinstagramiOS 7iphonePhotographyTue, 03 Jun 2014 23:55:53 +0000Leif Johnson20075 at http://www.maclife.comPrice Drop: The Weekend's Best App Deals, April 11http://www.maclife.com/article/gallery/price_drop_weekends_best_app_deals_april_11
<!--paging_filter--><p>Holy smokes, if digital photography and image editing is your thing then hurry your butt over to the App Store this week, because there are some rocking app sales for the shutterbugs among our readers. We've flagged a few of them, but it's freebies and price cuts galore on dozens of apps. Plus, we've got a few notable names with flagship products on the discount rack, so this weekend is a good one to stock up.</p>http://www.maclife.com/article/gallery/price_drop_weekends_best_app_deals_april_11#commentsGallery1Password500 BooksAdobeAdobe Photoshop TouchApp LifeApp SalesApp StoreAppLifeAppsBlocks!Calendars 5camera appscamerasCaricature MeChemist - Virtual Chem LabDay OneDealsdigital imagingdigital photographyEditingExtreme FXFacetuneFlash ReaderFragmentfrugal lifeIM+ Pro7image editinginstagramJuggle: Pocket MachinemovieStudioMy CartoonPaintMeePhotoshopPicTapGopicturesPrinter ProPrivate CalculatorprocamReflexsalesScanner Protooncameraweekly dealsFri, 11 Apr 2014 15:52:56 +0000J Keirn-Swanson19732 at http://www.maclife.comOvernight Recap: iTunes Festival SXSW, Verizon Subsidies, Instagram Luxhttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/overnight_recap_itunes_festival_sxsw_verizon_subsidies_instagram_lux
<!--paging_filter--><p><img src="/files/u220903/itunes_festival_sxsw_620px.png" alt="iTunes Festival SXSW" width="620" height="300" /></p><p>You've got to hand it to Verizon Wireless -- the nation's largest carrier isn't afraid to go it alone rather than leap into a pricing war with its three smaller rivals. But could their attachment to traditional two-year contracts, higher prices and handset subsidies be short-sighted? For now, executives claim no, and they seem to have the numbers to back it up. This and more in our Monday recap!</p><h3>First U.S.-Based iTunes Festival Kicks Off at SXSW</h3><p>SXSW is in full swing down in Austin, Texas and that means its time for a little Apple-sponsored jam over the next few days. In just a few short hours, the very first U.S.-based iTunes Festival will kick off with London Grammar at 7:30 PM, followed by Imagine Dragons at 8:30 PM and Coldplay at 10 PM. While those are all listed in Austin time, <a href="http://tw.itunes.com/6012gJQr" target="_blank">a new iTunes section</a> allows music lovers to conveniently view the lineup in your local time as well, along with profiles of all the featured acts which also include Kendrick Lamar on Wednesday, Soundgarden on Thursday, Pitbull on Friday and Willie Nelson to wrap up the show this Saturday, March 15.</p><h3>Verizon Says Ditching Subsidized Plans "A Mistake"</h3><p><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2014/03/10/verizon-subsidized-plans/" target="_blank">Engadget reported Monday</a> that Verizon executives appear quite happy to sit back and watch T-Mobile US and AT&amp;T duke it out over pricing and the absence of contracts, because they're having none of that nonsense. Speaking at a media conference hosted by Deutsche Bank, Verizon CEO Fran Shammo defended the traditional subsidy business model, claiming "it has done wonders for us in this industry" and would be "a mistake" to abandon it entirely. So why introduce the carrier's Edge early upgrade and More Everything plans at all? Shammo says customers were demanding them, which would seem to contradict Verizon's "you'll have to pry these subsidies out of our cold, dead hands" stance -- but hey, freedom of choice and all that, right?</p><h3>Instagram Adds Custom Slider for Image Adjustments</h3><p><a href="https://twitter.com/instagram/status/443134632482336768" target="_blank">Instagram announced Tuesday</a> a minor update to the photo-based social network which delivers "a new creative tool that lets you adjust contrast and tones." Using the improved Lux feature, iPhone shutterbugs can now make images softer or more stark, all with a simple custom slider to produce the perfect look. That's literally all that's listed in the release notes for version 5.0.6, but hey, new features are always something to get excited about, so <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/instagram/id389801252?mt=8" target="_blank">head to the App Store</a> and download the update today.</p><h3>Coburn Jr. Delivers Handcrafted Wood Stand for iPhone</h3><p><a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/finegrain/coburn-jr-iphone-stand" target="_blank">FineGrain announced a new Kickstarter campaign this week</a> to raise funds for Coburn Jr., a "minimalist wood iPhone stand" the three founders claim is "handcrafted in the USA." Available in cherry or walnut, Coburn Jr. appears to be literally just a small block of wood with a notch taken out of it that the user carries around until such time they want to prop up the iPhone to watch some video, for example. Late last year, FineGrain launched a similar Kickstarter campaign for Coburn, an iPad stand using a similar design. Proud owners apparently clamored for a similar version for the iPhone, and now it can be yours for a mere $15 or more. The crowdfunded effort is only looking for a mere $2,000, and the campaign wraps up on April 9.</p><h3>HP Debuts New 8-Inch Android Tablet with Little Fanfare</h3><p>HP is back in the tablet game -- but don't feel bad if you had no clue about it. <a href="http://www.phonearena.com/news/HP-launches-a-7.85-inch-170-tablet-the-HP-8-1401_id53605" target="_blank">According to PhoneArena</a>, the former webOS champion "quietly" launched a new eight-inch tablet here in the United States powered by Android and with specs that... well, look like pretty much every other Android tablet already on the market. The <a href=" http://shopping.hp.com/en_US/home-office/-/products/Tablets/HP/G4B69AA;pgid=xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx?HP-8-1401-Tablet&amp;&amp;rwCategory=-&amp;rwCatalog=-" target="_blank">HP 8 1401</a> does have one thing on its side, however: A low, low price of only $169.99, which also gets the proud owner 25GB of Box cloud storage for life and free shipping. Certainly one of the cheapest ways to jump into the tablet game, even if it is running a slightly crusty version of Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean.<br /><br /><em>Follow this article’s author, <a href="http://twitter.com/JRBTempe" target="_blank">J.R. Bookwalter on Twitter</a></em></p><p>&nbsp;</p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/overnight_recap_itunes_festival_sxsw_verizon_subsidies_instagram_lux#commentsNewsandroid tabletsCoburn Jr.HPinstagramiphone standsiTunes FestivalLuxovernight recapsubsidiesSXSWVerizon WirelessiPadiPhoneiPodMacTue, 11 Mar 2014 12:36:18 +0000J.R. Bookwalter19524 at http://www.maclife.comLightt Reviewhttp://www.maclife.com/article/video_software/lightt_review
<!--paging_filter--><p>Where most video apps on our iPhones focus purely on Kodak moments, Lightt is kind of like a personal documentarian. With an eye for short clips that can be quickly captured and posted, the video-recording app stitches together your posts into an endless looping timeline that plays a bit like a disjointed flip book. Version 3 brings it up to speed with its filter-happy contemporaries, and a host of editing and audio tools make it a viable alternative to Vine and Instagram.</p><p><img src="/files/u338318/2013/12/lighttmerged.png" width="620" height="548" /></p><p>Lightt packs a ton of features into an interface that aims to be as simple as possible. The recording screen features several options that are accessible at a tap, including ghost mode (which overlays a translucent image of your last capture), image stabilization, and auto focus. An array of live filters and special effects dress up your clips in a variety of ways — we particularly enjoyed Gaussian and Glass Sphere — and a series of shortcuts let you quickly switch cameras, toggle the flash, and delete your last capture.</p><p>Tapping and holding your finger anywhere below the square video window starts recording (lifting pauses it), and a clever sliding gesture zooms in on your subject without fumbling to pinch. After recording, clips can be individually trimmed before your masterpiece is finalized. While we had fun exploring Lightt's effects, the interface feels extremely crowded on the iPhone screen. Buttons often failed to respond to our touch, and the navigation felt somewhat confusing, especially when recording. Also, the camera is a little slow to launch at times.</p><p>Lightt gets in on the social media game with its own network of Lightters, and varying playback speeds let you scrub through dozens of clips in just a few seconds. Saved videos are automatically added to your revolving timeline, though individual clips can be posted to Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and Tumblr as well. We do wish that there was a clearer way to designate videos as private, however. A pair of in-app purchases take away the 60-second cap on recording, but we didn't find the limit too constricting.</p><p><strong>The bottom line.</strong> Lightt is a great way to record your living history, but a muddled interface takes away some of its luster.</p><fieldset class="fieldgroup group-the-bottom-line"><legend>Review Synopsis</legend><div class="field field-type-text field-field-product">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Product:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/lightt-video-life-simplified./id545803363?mt=8" target="_blank">Lightt 3.0.2</a></p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-company">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Company:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
Lightt Inc. </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-contact">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Contact:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p><a href="http://www.lightt.com" target="_blank">www.lightt.com</a></p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-price">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Price:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
Free </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-requirements">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Requirements:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p>iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch running iOS 6.0 or later</p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-positives">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Positives:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p>Fantastic method for documenting your life. Excellent set of filters and effects. Good in-app editing tools.</p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-negatives">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Negatives:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p>Claustrophobic interface can be tricky to manage. Slow to open at times. Video posts set to public by default.</p> </div>
</div>
</div>
</fieldset>
http://www.maclife.com/article/video_software/lightt_review#commentsReviewsapp store reviewsAppLifeAppsfiltersinstagramiPod and iPhoneLighttsocialSoftwarevideoVideo SoftwareVineiPadiPhoneiPodFri, 13 Dec 2013 21:29:23 +0000Michael Simon18867 at http://www.maclife.comVinyet Reviewhttp://www.maclife.com/article/video_software/vinyet_review
<!--paging_filter--><p>Vine and Instagram make it easy for would-be filmmakers to create brief epics of the imagination using just an iPhone, with no traditional editing required. But those looking to expand their horizons will find far more creative options with a modestly priced app from the creators of FocusTwist. Presumably a play on the word “vignette” as much as it is a nod to Twitter’s micro-moviemaking service, Vinyet delivers 23 real-time cinematic filters along with a host of pro-end features, like stop motion, time-lapse, animated GIF export, and more control over captured segments.</p><p><img src="/files/u338318/2013/12/vinyetmerged.png" width="620" height="548" /></p><p>Although it’s not a full-featured video editor, Vinyet does offer far more options than either Vine or Instagram – both of which happen to be available as export options for completed videos – along with Facebook and the ability to save to Camera Roll in one of three sizes: 480p (Low), 640p (Mid), or 720p (High). There’s no option for 1080p HD output here.</p><p>Sadly, videos are automatically cropped to square format when shot, and imported clips can only be trimmed for length – 16:9 videos are otherwise center-cropped, losing any content that might be at the far left or right edge of the frame. Once clips are assembled, Vinyet can replace existing audio with a song from your iTunes library, which makes for a more compelling soundtrack for movies with non-speaking subjects. For novice animators, Vinyet also features "ghost mode," a modern-day version of the onionskin technique used by stop-motion animators in a bygone era to line up objects for the next frame (or segment, in this case). All filters feature real-time live previews, so iPhone-tographers will always know exactly what they’re getting.</p><p>Although Vinyet can create seemingly endless looping movies, videos can’t be shared if they’re longer than the permitted six or 15-second length allowed by Vine and Instagram, respectively. Vinyet is also limited to a single movie at once, with no way to save a project for later editing.</p><p><strong>The bottom line.</strong> Despite a couple of limitations, Vinyet is a powerhouse app for creating looping mobile movies, with a wealth of extra features that Vine and Instagram can only dream of.</p><fieldset class="fieldgroup group-the-bottom-line"><legend>Review Synopsis</legend><div class="field field-type-text field-field-product">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Product:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/vinyet/id697065371?mt=8" target="_blank">Vinyet 1.3</a></p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-company">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Company:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
Arqball </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-contact">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Contact:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p><a href="http://www.vinyet.co" target="_blank">www.vinyet.co</a></p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-price">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Price:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
$1.99 </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-requirements">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Requirements:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p>iPhone or iPod touch running iOS 7.0 or later</p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-positives">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Positives:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p>Wider range of editing options than Vine or Instagram. Stop-motion and time-lapse modes. Animated GIF export.</p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-negatives">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Negatives:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p>Edited movies can only be exported, not saved as projects. No 1080p HD capture or export. Can’t share movies to Vine or Instagram longer than service limits.</p> </div>
</div>
</div>
</fieldset>
http://www.maclife.com/article/video_software/vinyet_review#commentsReviewsapp store reviewsAppLifeAppsCreationfiltersgifsinstagramiPod and iPhonemoviesSoftwarevideoVideo SoftwareVineVinyetiPadiPhoneiPodFri, 06 Dec 2013 19:16:30 +0000J.R. Bookwalter18804 at http://www.maclife.comNokia Debuts Six New Devices, Including Lumia 2520 Windows RT Tablethttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/nokia_debuts_six_new_devices_including_lumia_2520_windows_rt_tablet
<!--paging_filter--><p><img src="/files/u220903/nokia_lumia_2520_tablet_620px.png" alt="Nokia Lumia 2520 tablet" width="620" height="300" /></p><p>Apple isn't the only tech company holding a splashy media event today: Nokia World is going down right now in Abu Dhabi, and the soon-to-be Microsoft entity has wasted no time unveiling six new devices and some long-awaited apps for Windows Phone.<br /><br />On Tuesday, <a href="http://conversations.nokia.com/2013/10/22/innovation-reinvented-at-nokia-world/" target="_blank">Nokia's Conversations Blog posted a quick recap</a> of the company's latest products and services unveiled at Nokia World 2013, including new Lumia handsets and a long-rumored tablet.<br /><br />First up is the Lumia 1520, Windows Phone 8 device featuring a six-inch 1080p HD display along with the company's 20MP PureView camera. Nokia also introduced the Lumia 1320, which ditches the PureView camera but keeps the larger screen for budget-minded users.<br /><br />Nokia also refreshed its Asha lineup, introducing three new models: The 500, 502 and 503, which feature "a stunning new industrial design with a better camera and a range of capabilities including 3G." (Never thought you'd see a manufacturer brag about that in 2013, did you?)<br /><br />Rounding out the new hardware is the Lumia 2520, a Windows RT tablet offering LTE connectivity with an outdoor-friendly display and the same stylish looks as the company's Lumia smartphones.<br /><br />Nokia also had some good news for Windows Phone 8 users on the software front, with updates to its HERE Maps service as well as new Nokia Storyteller, Nokia Video Director and Nokia Beamer apps for creating better videos and photos.<br /><br />Last but not least, the company announced its long campaign to bring Instagram to the Windows Phone 8 platform has finally paid off, with an official app on the way in the next few weeks. Twitter's Vine will also arrive on the platform, and both apps will be available to all users, rather than being offered as Nokia exclusives.<br /><br /><em>Follow this article’s author, <a href="http://twitter.com/JRBTempe" target="_blank">J.R. Bookwalter on Twitter</a></em></p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/nokia_debuts_six_new_devices_including_lumia_2520_windows_rt_tablet#commentsNewsAshainstagramLumiaLumia 2520nokiaNokia WorldsmartphonestabletsVineWindows Phone 8Windows RTiPadiPhoneTue, 22 Oct 2013 13:17:54 +0000J.R. Bookwalter18382 at http://www.maclife.comWeekend App Recap: Loom Goes Public, Spin, Convert 2, Rdio Offers Radiohttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/weekend_app_recap_loom_goes_public_spin_convert_2_rdio_offers_radio
<!--paging_filter--><p><img src="/files/u220903/loom_goes_public_620px.png" alt="Loom goes public" width="620" height="300" /></p><p>October is now here in full force, which means those of us in the market for a new iPad or Mac Pro are beginning to foam at the mouths, wondering when Apple will unleash new toys for us to spend our hard-earned cash on. And what good would a new gadget be without new apps to fill it with? It just so happens that the weekend brought us a few new options, so dive in and check 'em out in our app-tastic recap.</p><h3>Photo Sharing Service Loom Now Available to All</h3><p>This was a big weekend for the folks at Loom, <a href="https://blog.loom.com/weve-got-some-great-news/" target="_blank">who opened their doors to the public on Friday</a> after a lengthy private beta for the Mac and iOS photo sharing service. Having successfully raised $1.4 million in seed funding, Loom has a new iOS 7-friendly version of its mobile app along with a fresh new Mac uploader, both of which add support for <a href="https://blog.loom.com/loom-now-features-ios7-and-raw-support/" target="_blank">uploading RAW images</a>. Images uploaded via Loom are optimized for viewing on the iPhone/iPod touch, iPad and web, while the original file remains available for downloading at any time. All users receive 5GB of cloud storage free, so head over to the Loom website and give it a try!</p><h3>Spin App Promises to Put New Spin on Real-Time Chat</h3><p>Sure, there are plenty of ways to get real-time video chat on your mobile devices, but the folks at <a href="http://getspin.com" target="_blank">Spin</a> have introduced a new way to engage with up to 10 people at once while sharing photos and videos together from anywhere there's an internet connection. Spin is a free, universal iOS app that promises increased audio and HD video quality in a swipe-friendly user interface, along with a host of fun-sounding innovations such as "Spinvitations," "ChalkTalk" and "FXPs," which is short for "Fun Experiences." The app is free, so why not join the party now and encourage your friends to do the same?</p><h3>Rdio Debuts Free Pandora-Style Mobile Radio Service</h3><p><a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory/rdio-launches-free-listening-mobile-devices-20453871" target="_blank">ABC News is reporting</a> that streaming music provider Rdio has jumped into the Pandora pond with a free internet radio service as part of a partnership with terrestrial radio station owner Cumulus Media. The service is now included as part of Rdio's iOS and Android app for mobile users and "won't play ads between the songs that are randomly picked based on genres, artists, songs or albums," while the web version will feature advertising provided by Cumulus.</p><h3>tap tap tap Debuts All-New Convert 2 for iPhone</h3><p>The folks at tap tap tap may be best known for Camera+, but they've also got a small catalog of other apps, including a modestly popular unit converter-slash-calculator that just got a big facelift for iOS 7. <a href="http://taptaptap.com/blog/are-those-pigs-flying-overhead-nope-its-the-all-new-convert-2/" target="_blank">Convert 2</a> introduces a sleek new visual design that geeks in particular will love, thanks to inclusion of a full scientific calculator simply by swiping left or right on the keypad. The update also includes nine new categories, bringing the total to 24, and also adds 22 new currencies, complete with a tap and hold option with a pop-up for jumping quickly to your favorites. To celebrate the release, Convert 2 is on sale for a limited time for only 99 cents, so grab it while the price is right.</p><h3>Instagram Confirms Ads Coming in Near Future</h3><p>You pretty much knew this was coming, didn't you? <a href="http://blog.instagram.com/post/63017560810/instagramasagrowingbusiness" target="_blank">Instagram announced Friday</a> its plans to integrate "occasional" ads into U.S. users' feeds sometime in the next couple months in order to build the service into "a sustainable business." The company does promise that users will be able to hide any ads they don't like as well as offer feedback about why they chose to do so, but otherwise compares the experience to reading a magazine and having to endure those "engaging, high-quality ads." No word on whether or not the company plans any kind of premium subscription option for those of us who want to avoid advertising altogether, however.<br /><br /><em>Follow this article’s author, <a href="http://twitter.com/JRBTempe" target="_blank">J.R. Bookwalter on Twitter</a></em></p><p>&nbsp;</p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/weekend_app_recap_loom_goes_public_spin_convert_2_rdio_offers_radio#commentsNewsapp recapApp StoreConvert 2digital photosinstagraminternet radioLoompandorardioSpintap tap tapweekend recapiPadiPhoneiPodMacMon, 07 Oct 2013 12:25:12 +0000J.R. Bookwalter18250 at http://www.maclife.comiOS 7 App Recap: Instagram, Clear for iPhone, Burnerhttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/ios_7_app_recap_instagram_clear_iphone_burner
<!--paging_filter--><p><img src="/files/u220903/instagram_for_ios_7_620px.png" alt="Instagam" width="620" height="300" /></p><p>Developers continue to update their apps for iOS 7, although in a few cases they won't be leaving their iconic branding entirely in Apple's hands -- nor leave users of an older version behind.<br /><a href="http://blog.instagram.com/post/62255683934/instagram-for-ios7" target="_blank"><br />Instagram announced its own iOS 7-friendly iPhone update on Wednesday</a>, and while the app itself has a shiny, flatter design, the company apparently has no plans to ditch its familiar icon just because Apple has moved in another direction.<br /><br />"In this update you will find that we’ve increased the size of photos and videos in your feed so that they expand to the edges of your screen," the blog post reads. "We’re also happy to say that increased size means increased resolution, so photos and videos will be clearer and more vibrant than ever."<br /><br />Speaking of making things clearer, the folks at <a href="http://realmacsoftware.com/blog/some-changes-for-clear" target="_blank">Realmac Software have announced</a> that the original iPhone version of their Clear app has returned following an "emotional response" from users over the decision to pull it in favor of a new iOS 7 version that adds native iPad support.<br /><br />That product, now rechristened as Clear+, will continue to be the main iOS version, but Realmac has restored the original Clear for iPhone, which also works on iOS 7, repricing it at only 99 cents. Meanwhile, Clear for Mac will continue to be updated without a new paid version, so good news there for cheapskates.<br /><br />Last but not least, Ad Hoc Labs announced Thursday the release of <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/burner-disposable-phone-numbers/id505800761?mt=8" target="_blank">Burner 2.0</a>, the company's free iPhone app that allows users to create disposable phone numbers for making calls or sending texts with maximum privacy and security.<br /><br />Fresh from a $2 million investment from Founder Collective and Venrock, Burner has also been entirely redesigned with a fresh new coat of iOS 7-style paint, and the app's Sample and Mini Burners have been extended by a full seven days -- including currently active Burners for existing users.<br /><br />All three updates are now available from the App Store.<br /><br /><em>Follow this article’s author, <a href="http://twitter.com/JRBTempe" target="_blank">J.R. Bookwalter on Twitter</a></em></p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/ios_7_app_recap_instagram_clear_iphone_burner#commentsNewsAd Hoc LabsApp Storeapp updatesburnerclearClear PlusinstagramiOS 7phone numbersRealmac SoftwareiPadiPhoneiPodThu, 26 Sep 2013 13:09:49 +0000J.R. Bookwalter18161 at http://www.maclife.comApp Store Now Serving Up Previous Versions for Older iOS Deviceshttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/app_store_now_serving_previous_versions_older_ios_devices
<!--paging_filter--><p><img src="/files/u220903/app_compatibility_prompt_620px.png" alt="iOS compatibility prompt" width="620" height="300" /></p><p>Still rocking an older and now unsupported iOS device that you just can't bear to put out to pasture? Fear not, Apple has your back with a new option to download the last compatible version of an app that will work on your aging hardware.<br /><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2013/09/17/apple-ios-last-compatible-version-app-iphone-ipod-ipad/" target="_blank"><br />Engadget reported Tuesday</a> that Apple appears to be throwing a bone to those stuck on older iOS devices on the eve of iOS 7's release tomorrow. Rather than completely shut out older hardware incapable of running the current version, the App Store now offers the option to download a previous compatible version instead.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.reddit.com/r/apple/comments/1mjw36/people_with_old_ios_devices_you_can_now_install/" target="_blank">The new option was first spotted on Reddit</a>, where a screenshot of the new prompt was posted for all to see, and Engadget managed to successfully install an older version of Instagram using an iPhone 3GS still running iOS 4.3.3 as well as Twitter on an even older iPhone 3G running iOS 4.2.1.<br /><br />"Download an older version of this app?" Apple's new compatibility prompt asks. "The current version requires iOS 5.0 or later, but you can download the last compatible version."<br /><br />Just for kicks, we tried installing a few apps on our creaky old original iPhone, which is still running creaky old iOS 3.1.3 — sadly, we didn't have any luck, but it wouldn't be surprising if Apple was limiting this to iOS 4.0 and higher.<br /><br />This news is likely to come as a relief to owners of older iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad hardware faced with inevitable extinction; at least they now have the option to remain frozen in time with apps that actually still function.<br /><br /><em>Follow this article’s author, <a href="http://twitter.com/JRBTempe" target="_blank">J.R. Bookwalter on Twitter</a><br /><br />(Image courtesy of Engadget)</em></p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/app_store_now_serving_previous_versions_older_ios_devices#commentsNewsApp StoreAppscompatibilityinstagraminstallationiOS 4.0iPhone 3Giphone 3gslatest versionsredditTwitteriPadiPhoneiPodTue, 17 Sep 2013 13:07:46 +0000J.R. Bookwalter18074 at http://www.maclife.comWSJ: Ads Coming to Instagram Sometime Next Yearhttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/wsj_ads_coming_instagram_sometime_next_year
<!--paging_filter--><p>Considering that Facebook spent a cool billion dollars on Instagram when it acquired it early last year, it only makes sense that it would want to get some of that money back. As a consequence, the moment many users of the popular photo sharing service have long feared is now on its way (eventually, anyway): ads are coming to Instagram, according to the <a href="http://online.wsj.com/article_email/SB10001424127887324577304579059230069305894-lMyQjAxMTAzMDAwODEwNDgyWj.html" target="_blank">Wall Street Journal</a>.</p><p>Instagram's done well since its acquisition by the social networking giant, as it now boasts 150 million active users, many of whom joined the site after the acquisition. We've heard <a href="http://www.maclife.com/article/news/ads_coming_instagram_zuckerberg_says_no_timeline_given" target="_blank">vague statements </a>in the past suggesting that the service will eventually host ads, but today's article marks the first time Facebook has announced plans to monetize Instagram with any certainty. According to Emily White, a former Facebook employee who now works as the director of business operations at Instagram, we could see ads sometime next year.</p><p><img src="/files/u334114/2013/09/redvinesinstagramvideo.jpg" width="620" height="434" /></p><p><strong>Source: <a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/roberthof/2013/06/22/heres-one-company-thats-already-running-instagram-video-ads-on-facebook-and-twitter/" target="_blank">Forbes</a></strong></p><p>In the words of the Journal, "As director of business operations, the 35-year-old Ms. White effectively is the new chief operating officer of Instagram, the point person charged with turning a billion-dollar acquisition that has never made a cent into a real business. Mr. Systrom, co-founder of Instagram, still makes the ultimate decisions, but it is Ms. White who is responsible for courting brand marketers and laying the foundation for advertising."</p><p>There's currently no clue what the Instagram ads will look like, although a popular (and realistic) theory suggests that we may see them through the Discovery tool or through the app's search function. In her interview with the WSJ. White stated that some companies have even expressed an interest in working images of their products into the app.</p><p><em> Follow this article's writer, <a href="https://twitter.com/LeifJohnson" target="_blank">Leif Johnson</a>, on Twitter.</em></p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/wsj_ads_coming_instagram_sometime_next_year#commentsNewsinstagramiOS 6iPadiphonephoto sharingSocial MediaMon, 09 Sep 2013 20:14:31 +0000Leif Johnson17993 at http://www.maclife.com